"This..."
Lin Yuan hid in the dense forest and looked up at the enormous elk-like Star Beast strolling past on a cushion of gales. His heart hammered.
That size...
That immense surge of Star Power...
One sneeze from it would probably kill me!
There's no way that's an ordinary Star Beast, is there?
"That's a Gale Star Deer, a powerful Stellar Behemoth that commands the power of gales."
"Judging by the two Star Patterns visible on its brow and the Star Power radiating from it, it's reached the Two-Pattern Realm, comparable to the Second Realm of the Stellar Martial Path."
Gu Shuangshuang watched it with a frown as she spoke, her hand resting on the weapon at her waist. A sliver of snow-white blade gleamed like frost, cold to the bone.
A Two-Pattern Stellar Behemoth was beyond newcomers to the Mortal Transcendence Realm like them. A single gale could probably wipe out the whole squad.
Only she could withstand it.
But the two Star Patterns on the Gale Star Deer's brow shone equally bright, like starlight in the heavens, radiating immense Star Power.
Even she felt wary. This Gale Star Deer was no ordinary Two-Pattern Star Beast. It had reached the peak of that realm and stood just one step from forming its third Star Pattern.
"What rotten luck..."
Her brows knitted as she cursed under her breath.
To encounter such an overpowering Star Beast as soon as they set out—their luck truly was terrible.
Fortunately, it seemed to be merely passing through. It did not deign to lower its head and failed to notice the Goddess Luo Squad hidden in the forest.
"Yoo—"
The Gale Star Deer's magnificent coat shimmered beneath a canopy of starlight, making it look like a spirit of the sky.
It gave a cry, proud and lofty, intelligence gleaming in its eyes.
Then it stepped onto the gales and drifted away.
Only when the terrifying Star Beast had receded into the distance did everyone breathe easier.
"That was scary..."
Gu Yiyi patted her chest, setting a snowy expanse trembling.
The others still felt a lingering chill.
But their expressions remained fairly calm.
They were veteran martial artists, after all. They had slain countless Star Beasts and ventured into the Minor Astral Realm countless times. Encounters like this happened now and then.
"Come on. Let's find another place."
Captain Gu waved a hand and led them away.
The Astral Realm was vast and richly blessed.
The energy of the stars hung thick in its air, nurturing untold Heavenly Treasures.
The same was true of Star Beasts!
As they traveled, Lin Yuan's eyes were opened.
He saw all sorts of wondrous Star Beasts he had read about on the Star Warrior Forum—
There were Stellar Giant Rabbits whose ears brushed the ground. Standing upright, they reached eight or nine meters tall. Their eyes glowed scarlet, and they could fire blood-red beams that easily pierced massive trees and mountains!
There were bizarre Star Beasts shaped like mountains of flesh, dozens of meters tall. Their enormous bodies crushed everything beneath them as they moved. Wherever they passed, greenery dissolved, and their corrosive touch ate through all things!
And high in the sky flew terrifying giant birds with swordlike beaks, commanding storms and lightning to shatter mountains and boulders...
In a single day, Lin Yuan saw dozens of kinds of Stellar Behemoths. Even the smallest rivaled the mightiest Tyrant Ferocious Tiger of the Wilderness Zone in size. With supernatural powers besides, its combat strength exceeded the tiger's by dozens of times!
What a sight.
He sighed inwardly, but excitement filled his eyes.
This was the world of Starry-Sky Warriors! Mere Fierce Beasts hardly deserved a place on the stage. Hunting behemoths like these—that would be satisfying.
"One of the main reasons Stellar Behemoths are called behemoths is their size."
Along the way, Captain Gu found time to teach the two newcomers some basics.
"Even after absorbing stellar energy and growing larger and more savage, Fierce Beasts on Azure Star can't exceed the limits of their species. There's nothing remarkable about them."
"But Stellar Behemoths are different!"
"They're born superior. Their bloodlines and genes surpass those of every other species."
"Their immense size is one of their defining traits."
"One-Pattern Star Beasts are the weakest, and they aren't all that large—only a few meters or so..."
"Once they reach the Two-Pattern Realm, they're generally over ten meters tall. That growth also reflects the awakening of their bloodline gifts. Their bodies grow tougher, and their strength surges."
"At the Three-Pattern Realm, most can grow to a hundred meters. They're as large as mountains, and a casual movement can crack the earth and send seas surging..."
At this point, Captain Gu could not help sighing.
"At the Four-Pattern Realm, they're super Star Beasts comparable to Marquis-Sealing Realm experts. Their true bodies can swell to a thousand meters tall, with the power to destroy heaven and earth!"
"The strongest Star Beast discovered so far is an Ultimate Star Beast bearing five whole Star Patterns. Its power is unfathomable. Unless a King-Sealing Realm expert steps forward, no one can contend with it..."
Lin Yuan listened, utterly entranced.
A thousand meters? Ten thousand?
How enormous would that be?
They truly deserved the name Stellar Behemoths. If they kept growing at this rate, perhaps even that wasn't their limit. He wouldn't be surprised if a peak Star Beast as large as a planet appeared someday...
"But all that is still far beyond you two."
Captain Gu smiled and brought the subject back.
"You've only just become Starry-Sky Warriors. Forget high-ranking Star Beasts of the Two-Pattern Realm and above—even against a One-Pattern Star Beast, you can't let your guard down."
"Star Beasts have formidable innate gifts. Even the weakest One-Pattern Star Beast commands supernatural power and can do incredible things, such as control wind, rain, thunder, and lightning."
"For example..."
"The Earth Desolate Bull Beast!"
As they talked, the Goddess Luo Squad arrived at a valley.
It was vast, stretching beyond sight.
Within it, several bull-like Star Beasts, each a few meters tall, could be seen faintly drawing in and releasing the Star Power of heaven and earth, stirring small tides of energy.
Earth Desolate Bull Beasts?
Lin Yuan and the others concealed themselves and studied the huge bull-like Star Beasts below as they absorbed the surrounding energy.
Size... About five or six meters tall. Less than ten!
Star Patterns... Just one on the forehead, glimmering with starlight.
One-Pattern Star Beasts. We can take them!
Lin Yuan made a quick assessment and reached his conclusion.
Although Earth Desolate Bull Beasts lived in herds, there were only seven or eight in this valley, and none had reached the Two-Pattern Realm.
Given the Goddess Luo Squad's strength, they could handle them easily even without Captain Gu joining the fight.
"These will do."
Captain Gu surveyed the surroundings. Once she was sure there were no other dangerous presences, she nodded.
"Star Beasts aren't like Fierce Beasts. Every one of them has an innate gift."
"The Earth Desolate Bull Beast's gift is Earth Tremor. It can gather Earth Tremor Force and tear its enemies apart..."
"They're perfect for you two to practice on."
Gu Shuangshuang smiled.
The other squad members turned their gazes toward Gu Yiyi and Lin Yuan, a hint of curiosity in their eyes.
New martial artists usually floundered and fled in every direction the first time they fought a Stellar Behemoth.
But...
These two were no ordinary newcomers. Both had reportedly awakened legendary Special Constitutions and had the makings of Star-Martial Prodigies.
This should be interesting...
Sensing the shift in mood, Lin Yuan understood at once what he needed to do.
"I'll go first."
He stepped forward without hesitation.
A sharp sword gleam seemed to flicker in his eyes.
Good. Let this be my first battle as a Starry-Sky Warrior!
How much experience would I get for killing a Star Beast?
I couldn't wait to find out...
Before you continue